Senior Advisor, Immigration Policy & Strategy

ABOUT US

UnidosUS, previously known as NCLR (National Council of La Raza), is the nation’s largest Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization. Through its unique combination of expert research, advocacy, programs, and an Affiliate Network of nearly 300 community-based organizations across the United States and Puerto Rico, UnidosUS simultaneously challenges the social, economic, and political barriers that affect Latinos at the national and local levels. For more than 50 years, UnidosUS has united communities and different groups seeking common ground through collaboration, and that share a desire to make our community stronger. For more information on UnidosUS, visit www.unidosus.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

UnidosUS, previously known as NCLR (National Council of La Raza), is the nation’s largest Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization. Through our unique combination of expert research, advocacy programs, and an Affiliate Network of 300+ community-based organizations across the United States and Puerto Rico, UnidosUS simultaneously challenges the social, economic, and political barriers that affect Latinos at the national and local levels.

The Senior Advisor, Immigration Policy and Strategy is a role that will support UnidosUS’s Protect, Defend & Advance (PD&A) campaign by leading the immigration strategy. The Senior Advisor is a member of the institution-wide campaign team, a leader of the immigration working group, and will sit at the Policy & Advocacy team’s senior management table. The Senior Advisor plays a key role in developing and advancing UnidosUS's immigration priorities in Congress and in select statehouses. The advisor is expected to lead UnidosUS’ engagement efforts on immigration with government officials, lawmakers, stakeholders, funders, and serve as a lead spokesperson in media. This position will oversee the work of up to two team members, which may consist of a combination of staff and consultants.

The Senior Advisor must be registered to lobby for UnidosUS and be available for in-person Capitol Hill visits and events. The position requires occasional travel, including to UnidosUS events. This is a full-time temporary exempt position expected to run through December 31, 2026.

Location: This position is hybrid, and will be based in Washington, DC. UnidosUS policy is to work onsite at least two days per week or as needed to fulfill the duties of the position.

Salary: $210,000-$230,000

Essential Functions:

Strategy and Advocacy

• Identify policy priorities and set campaign goals and outcomes.
• In collaboration with SVP and Communications VP, shape the communications strategy in support of campaign goals.
• Lead, oversee, and carry out advocacy activities to advance priorities including setting the research and policy analyses agenda, directing outreach and engagement, and organizing timely field events and mobilization efforts.
• Establish, cultivate and maintain influential relationships with key members of Congress, federal and state officials, state lawmakers, stakeholders and coalition leaders, funders and supporters, and media partnerships.
• Work directly with and partner with community-based Affiliate leaders to ground the campaign and deepen our impact on policymakers.
• Serve as a lead policy expert, advocate, and spokesperson externally, including in high-level coalition tables.

Portfolio Management and Cross-Sectional Leadership

• Advise and support the CEO and senior Leadership to achieve strategic goals related to immigration.
• In collaboration with the VP, Resource Development, lead and support fundraising efforts for the Protect, Defend, & Advance Campaign.
• Support efforts to keep UnidosUS Board, Affiliates, partners, and staff informed about immigration efforts.

Required Qualifications

• Advanced degree in policy, law, or related policy and advocacy field.
• Minimum of fifteen (15) years of in-depth experience engaging in federal and state level advocacy.
• Minimum of seven (7) years supervisory
• Demonstrated experience in managing six-figure budgets and fundraising in previous roles.
• Knowledge and demonstrated expertise in immigration policy.
• Experience working with Congress on major legislation.
• Successful record of engaging and influencing Congress with established relationships on or around Capitol Hill.
• Experience communicating Latino policy and legislative priorities in public settings such as coalition meetings, congressional meetings and briefings, and major conferences.
• Experience delivering statements and responding to media inquiries, both print and on-camera in coordination with SVP, P&A and Communications team, in English and in Spanish.
• Project management skills, including planning, strategy setting, monitoring, fund raising, and reporting to various audiences.
• Experience staffing principles and senior leadership in their engagement with Congress.
• Knowledge of ethics, lobbying, and campaign and election rules.
• Flexibility to accommodate the congressional calendar (session) and for occasional travel (up to 10%).
• Demonstrated experience with and knowledge of the Latino community.

Preferred Qualifications

• Seven (7) or more years of Capitol Hill or government experience.
• Experience working with Hispanic lawmakers.
• Government experience.
• Bilingual ability (English and Spanish).

Skills and Abilities

• Steadfast commitment to UnidosUS mission, vision, and values (Excellence, Respeto, Accountability).
• Commitment to U.S. Latino community, Latino nonprofit organizations, and the Latino market.

Competencies

• Leadership-Exhibits confidence in self and others; Inspires and motivates others to perform well; Effectively influences actions and opinions of others; Accepts feedback from others; Gives appropriate recognition to others.
• Managing People--Includes staff in planning, decision-making, facilitating and process improvement; Takes responsibility for subordinates' activities; Makes self available to staff; Provides regular performance feedback; Develops subordinates' skills and encourages growth; Solicits and applies customer feedback (internal and external); Fosters quality focus in others; Improves processes, products and services; Continually works to improve supervisory skills.
• Strategic Thinking-Develops strategies to achieve organizational goals; Understands organization's strengths & weaknesses; Analyzes market and competition; Identifies external threats and opportunities; Adapts strategy to changing conditions.
• Project Management-Develops project plans; Coordinates projects; Communicates changes and progress; Completes projects on time and budget; Manages project team activities.
• Written Communication-Writes clearly and informatively; Edits work for spelling and grammar; Varies writing style to meet needs; Presents numerical data effectively; Able to read and interpret written information.
• Oral Communication-Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; Listens and gets clarification; Responds well to questions; Demonstrates group presentation skills; Participates in meetings.
• Problem Solving-Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; Gathers and analyzes information skillfully; Develops alternative solutions; Works well in group problem solving situations; Uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.
• Teamwork-Balances team and individual responsibilities; Exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; Gives and welcomes feedback; Contributes to building a positive team spirit; Puts success of team above own interests; Able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; Supports everyone's efforts to succeed.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

• Able to work well independently and remotely.
• Ability to travel.
• Accurately complete detailed forms and reports.
• Coordinate multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Sit for long periods of time.
• Utilize visual acuity to operate equipment, read technical information, and/or use a keyboard.

Employment with UnidosUS is contingent upon the successful completion of a background screen.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, national origin, marital status, religion, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, personal appearance, family responsibilities, political affiliation, or enrollment in a college, university, technical school, or adult education.